ellis



WILLIAM M. ELLIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BUOY.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,845, dated October 7, 1856,

To all whom it may concern:

cables of buoys, beacons, &c., to those bodies by points at or near theline of the center of pressure of the current in which they are exposed,which points of attachment are also made to be at, or near the center ofgravity of the floating bodies. By this arrangement not only muchgreater ease and security are given to the moorings, but what is of thegreatest importance, an upright position is given to buoys, &c., in allconditions of tide or current.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2are elevations of an ironbuoy intwo positions; Fig.1 giving a side view of a forked holding linkor shackle and Fig. 2, an edge View of the same in the inclined oroblique position assumed by it, when the buoy is driven by currents.Fig. 3, represents a vertical section of the lower half of the buoy,showing the pipe or tube, through which the bolt passes to which thecable is attached by means of a forked or V shaped link or shackle. Thetrunnions or studs upon which the forked link plays may be at tached tothe buoy, (or any floating body) in any other way, such as by studplates riveted on the outside, or by a wrought iron hoop or band,embracing the buoy, having the studs forged or welded thereto.

The method I prefer however. as being the simplest, and strongest, andoffering the best facility for attaching and detaching the moorings whennecessary, is that shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings;and consists in having a pipe or tube G of the required length, andflanged at either end to suit the shape of the buoy or other body, setwithin the said buoy or other body and securely riveted to the sidesthereof by its end flanges, so as to form a water tight opening directlythrough the said body.

This tube or pipe adds greatly to the strength or stiffness of the buoyor other body, especially in those of large class, by firmly bracing thesides together. Through this opening a strong bolt F passes, as shown inthe drawing; projecting at either end sufficiently to form the pivotsupon which the eyes of the V link or shackle E play, and are secured bykeys in the usual way.

It is well known that buoys as usually attached by their moorings aremade to careen by every current, so as to be scarcely visible at anydistance and are thus often almost useless from being either principallyburied, or lying in the trough of the sea. Another disadvantage of thecommon mode of attachment is that the strain upon the cable is oftenvery violent and irregular; the cable being constantly swayed about andjerked by the struggle of the buoy to obtain its equilibrium offlotation, and buoys are not unfrequently lost in consequence of thewearing or rupture of their chains. By my method of attachment howeverthis strain is greatly relieved; as the buoy rides easily upon the waterin constant equilibrium and the force exerted upon the cable is resolvedinto a slight vertical play. In addition to which as before indicatedthe buoy or beacon maintains constantly its upright position under allcircumstances.

Although I have described my device chiefly as applied to buoys, I donot design. to limit it to such, but consider it equally adapted tobeacons, signal or light ships, and all similar floating bodies.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as myinventionand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The methodabove described of mooring buoys, beacons, and floating bodies by havingtheir cables attached to said bodies in the line of their calculatedcenter of tidal pressure; and

2. The method of connecting the forked or V link or shackle to the saidbuoy or floating body, by means of a trunnion bolt passing through ametallic tube or pipe, properly set and secured within the said body.

WM. M. ELLIS.

Witnesses J. D. CLARK, JOHN WATERS.

